The fall in the number of tourist arrivals in Mauritius could well lead to important decisions concerning air access policy. The announcement that the Mauritian air space could be opened to another German airline company, Luftstransportsunternehmen (LTU) has revived the fear of some stakeholders that Mauritius might lose its specificity as a high-class destination.

But hotels have been built and they have to be filled. The government has always said that air access would be opened gradually and carefully to avoid charterloads of tourists. However, this precaution seems to have caused a standstill in the negotiations on air access policy.

Moreover, even if a tourist does not go to a luxurious hotel, he still has the means to help Mauritian economy as a whole. Shops, restaurants, markets would all benefit from more arrivals.

LTU is known as a company offering cut-off tariffs. Its 24 aircrafts took 5,7 million passengers to 65 different destinations last year. It is known as a charter, a word, which makes most stakeholders’ hair raise in the tourist industry. However, in Mauritius, LTU is said to propose low tariffs that have nothing to do with charter flights.

What the tourist industry fears is that “Mauritius is being sold off,” as Bissoon Mungroo, president of the Small hotels association, explains. However, Peter Goldsmith, manager of White Sand Tours, points out: “We should not confuse charter, which has a pejorative connotation, and leisure flights.” LTU is thus expected to make leisure flights.

The tourist sector in general seems to welcome the arrival of LTU. Even the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority is of the opinion that Mauritius has to adapt to the international environment. Everywhere the low-tariff policy has been implemented. Why should it be different for Mauritius?

The more so since Germany is not profitable for Air Mauritius. Another airline company such as LTU is welcomed by the government and even by Air Mauritius.

LTU intends to bring tourists for two or three star hotels, which should be good for Mauritius. The country’s high-class tourists continue to come to the luxury hotels but the more ordinary establishments do not have high occupancy rates. Tickets have always been too expensive for middle-income tourists although there is room for them in Mauritius.

Airline and hotel strategies have so far been different and this has not benefited the country. If the government sticks to its position this time, it could be a bad omen for the tourist industry, as well as for the economy as a whole.